Bukina's Upset of Top Seed Highlights Day Two of ITA Central Regionals
Oct. 20, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – One day after securing a bid to the main singles draw of the ITA Central Regional Championships, Kansas freshman Ksenia Bukina stunned top-seeded Maja Kovacek of New Mexico, 6-2; 3-6; 6-3, in the main draw’s first round, highlighting the Jayhawk’s showing on Thursday in Salt Lake City.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Along with ousting the tournaments top singles seed, Bukina had a successful day in doubles competition as well. Following a first round bye, she and teammate Elizaveta Avdeeva ousted <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>ArkansasState’s duo of Chelminska and Engelbrecth, 8-5, to advance to the round of 16.
In other doubles action, freshman Edina Horvath and sophomore Lauren Hommell topped Lauren Monson and Jill Smith of UtahState, 8-0 in the opening set of matches, but were eliminated after falling to Arkansas’ Ela Kaluder and Aurelija Miseviciute in the following round.
The Jayhawk’s tandem of Christine Skoda and Brittany Brown also notched an opening round victory — 8-3 over Denver’s Marisa Mechem and Rachael Sackmaster — but were also then eliminated after dropping their second match.
Avdeeva and Skoda each were eliminated from singles play after dropping their first round contests.
“I am extremely proud of Ksenia,” head Coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “For a freshman to come into a tournament of this caliber and eliminate the top seed is pretty impressive.”
“Ksenia and Elizaveta also played very well in doubles today,” Hall-Holt added. “Hopefully they can keep up their success tomorrow.”
The Championships will resume tomorrow with action scheduled to take place in both the singles and doubles draws.
Main Singles Draw:
-Round One
Ksenia Bukina (Kansas) def. Maja Kovacek (New Mexico), 6-2; 3-6; 6-3
Suzanna Maksovic (Denver) def. Christine Skoda (Kansas), 4-6; 6-2; 6-1
Tatiana Gahnza (BoiseState) def. Elizaveta Avdeeva (Kansas), 6-3; 2-6; 6-4
Main Doubles Draw:
–Round One
Horvath/Hommell (Kansas) def. Monson/Smith (UtahState), 8-0
Skoda/Brown (Kansas) def. Mechem/Sackmaster (Denver), 8-3
-Round Two
Bukina/Avdeeva (Kansas) def. Chelminska/ Engelbrecth (Arkansas St.) 8-5
Kaluder/Miseviciute (Arkansas) def. Horvath/Hommell (Kansas), 8-1
Franco/Ledaia (Arkansas) def. Skoda/Brown (Kansas), 8-6
